Lightweight door and mounting structure therefor



July 2, 1968 1.. B. SHERIDAN 3,390;418

LIGHTWEIGHT DOOR AND MOUNTING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 50, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :66 w 66 /6 76 l 42 J4 r" 30?Q: 5

INVENTOR.

L600 5. She/V400 ATTOIZ NEY United States Patent 3,390,418 LIGHTWEIGHT DQOR AND MOUNTING STRUCTURE THEREFQR Leon 3. Sheridan, Conklin, Niich, assignor to Leigh Products, Inc., Coopersville, Mich. Filed Aug. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 576,021 6 Claims. (Cl. 15=93) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bifold door mounted in a doorway with guide rails having channel shaped rails extending along the top and bottom of the doorway, inturned lips on the flanges of the rails, plastic slide blocks having grooves engaged with the lips, first notches opening to one end of the blocks and inwardly toward the door, flanges projecting inwardly of the notches intermediate of their depth and having second notches opening to the same ends of the blocks, semicylindrical bearing openings with restricted throats at the inner ends of the second notches, and pins projecting from the edge of the door and having annular grooves out near their ends, with the grooved portions fitting in the bearing portions of the flanges.

Summary of the invention Briefly stated, the invention comprises mounting and supporting structure for a light door consisting of upper and lower rails attachable across the lintel and floor of a doorway, and pins projecting from the corners of the door and engaged with locating and guiding elements attachable to the rails. The guiding elements associated with a moving edge of the door are longitudinally slidably engaged with the rails. On a folding door these will be located at the outer or opening edge of the door. On a sliding door, the guiding elements at both edges of the door will slide. The slidable guiding elements, in either case, have vertically interlapped, tongue and groove yieldable snap engagement with the rai.s to support vertical loads, and the pins associated with these slidable guiding elements at the top of the door have a vertically interlapped engagement with the guiding elements to be supported from the uiding elements. The slidable guiding elements and the pins associated therewith have a laterally or horizontally disengageable snap connection so that the door mounting can be easily assembled.

The drawings of which there are two sheets illustrate a highly practical form of the invention as applied to a double section folding door.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary or what is normally the rear side of a double folding door assembly as mounted within a door opening in a building.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary inside elevational view of the pivotally fixed edge of one of the door assemblies.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary inside elevational view of the adjacent swinging or opening edge of the two door sections with one door section shown in partially open position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the plane of the line -55 in FIGURE 4 and illustrating in top plan the slidable guide element at the bottom of the opening or swinging edge of the door.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the slidable guide element shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view partially broken away in cross section illustrating in somewhat exaggerated position the location of the two panels of one section of the double door in closed position and their relation to the center stop of the door assembly.

FIGURE 1 illustrates generally a door opening '10 having an upper cross member or lintel 12 and a lower cross portion or threshold 14. Extending along the underside of the lintel 12 is an upper guide and support rail generally indicated at 16 while a lower guide rail 18 extends along and is supported on the threshold 14. The door assembly consists of a pair of hinged doors indicated generally at 29A and 20B. The door sections are identical and a description of one is sutficient to an understanding of the invention. Each door section 20 consists of two door panels 22A and 223 that are hingedly connected as by the hinges 24.

Considering the connection of the sections and panels of the doors and their supporting and guiding connection to the rails 16 and 18 in greater detail, it is pointed out that the panels 20 of the doors are provided with vertically extending box folds 25 (see FIG. 7), which form upright frame or edge members 2-6 along each edge of the door panels. Secured to the inner or back sides of the door panels at least along the upper or lower edge thereof are cross members generally indicated at 28 and having inner bases 30 with horizontal side flanges 32 and 34 that form lower and upper folds respectively along the hollow box section of the cross members. The flanges 32 and 34 are provided with further outwardly turned edge flanges 36 that are secured as by welds indicated at 38 to the back side of the door panel. The end of the base portion 30 of the cross member is lapped upon the inside of the upright frame member 26 and secured thereto as by welding indicated at 40.

At the outer or pivoted edge of the panel 20A the upper cross member 28 is provided with plastic bearing elements 42 that are snapped in holes formed therefor in the upper wall 34 and lower wall 32. The bearings 42 slidably receive an upper pivot pin 44 which projects above the upper edge of the door panel. Positioned telescopically around the pin 44 and within the hollow section of the cross member is a coil spring 46 which seats at its lower end against the lower bearings 42. The upper end of the spring 46 bears against a cross pin 48 or other projection formed on the pin to bias the pin upwardly.

The lower cross member 28 has similar bearing gaskets 42 positioned in a hole in the lower wall 32 in vertical alignment with the other bearing 42 and a hole formed in the upper wall 34 of the lower cross member. Extending adjustably through the hole and bearing in the lower cross member is a lower pivot pin which projects downwardly below the lower edge of the door. The upper end of the pin 59 is threaded as at 52 and is provided with a tool engaging end such as a screw driver slot 54 so that it can be turned. The threaded portion 52 of the pin carries a wing nut 56 on the lower side of the upper wall 34 in supporting engagement with the panel through the wall and the cross member on which it is formed. The upper wall 34 of the lower cross member is clamped against the wing nut 56 by the hex nut 58 with a lock washer 60 positioned between the hex nut and channel wall to prevent rotation of the hex nut. By loosening the hex nut 58 the pin 50 may be adjustably extended through the wing nut 56 to adjust the amount of projection of the lower pivot pin below the lower edge of the panel. In order to facilitate access to and adjustment of the lower pivot pin and the spring 46 around the upper pivot pin the cross members are provided with rectangular openings 62 which expose the central portions of the pivot pins.

As appears more clearly in FIGURE 3, the upper rail 16 has an inner portion 64 of downwarly opening channel shaped cross section, the base of which is secured against the lintel 12 by any suitable means. The side walls or flanges of the channel section 64 have oppositely inwardly projecting spaced lips 66 formed integrally thereon the rail is further provided with outer side walls 63 which project upwardly on the outside of the center channel ection of the rail to give the rail a finished appearance. The lower rail 18 is generally the reverse of the upper rail, being provided with a central portion 712 of generzlly channel shaped Cl'Oio section that opens upwardly with transversely inwardly and oppositely projecting lips '72 at the upper edges of the side flanges or" the rails. Outer trim walls '74 project transversely outwardly and downwardly to the threshold 14. The lower rail 28 is illustrated as being of lesser vertical height or depth than the 1,. or rail and the invention contemplates possible reversal of the narrow and wide rails depending on the installation in which they are to be made.

Sec red across the upper or inner sides of the inwardly projecting lips 66 of the upper rail is pivot bearing secured in place by a screw 78 that bridges the space between the lips on. The bearing bracket 76 defines a hole which receives and locates the upper end of the upper pivot pin 46. As is apparent it is easy to draw the upper pivot pin down by compressing the spring 46 to locate the upper corner of the door after which the pivot pin 44 snaps upwardly through the pivot bracket until it bears against the base of the upper rail.

The lower pivot pin 51; is retained in position by a duplicate pivot bracket 76 secured within the channel section of the lower rail 18 by a screw 78. The pivot brackets 76 are easily adjustable along the lips of the supporting rails to obtain their proper location relative to the side of the door opening.

The supporting and guiding connections between the outer opening or swinging edges of the panels 223 and the guide rails are best illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6. The cross members 28 are secured to the panel as in the case of panel 22A and are provided with access openings 62. In the same manner the upper and lower walls of the cross members are provided with aligned holes each supportingly receiving plastic or other bearing bushings 8% that are in vertical alignment from the top to the bottom of the door. Slidably positioned in the bearings in the upper cross member is an upper guide pin 82 that projects upwardly above the upper edge of the door. A yielclable element in the form of the coil springs 84 is sleeved around the upper pin within the hollow section of the cross member bearing between the upper wall 34 of the cross member and a projection such as the cross pin 86 projecting from the side or" the upper pin. The upper end of the guide pin 82 is supportingly engaged in an upper slide member indicated generally at 88 in a manner which will be described in greater detail presently. With the upper end of the pin supported from the upper rail 16 and the slide 88, the weight of the outer swinging edge of the panel 228 is supported on the upper end of the spring 84 which is in turn supported on the cross pin 86 from the pin 32.

The bearing bushings St in the lower cross member freely tloatingly receive a lower guide pin 90 which projects downwardly into a slide or guide member 888 which is identical with the upper slide 88. The lower pin 90 thus rests by gravity in the lower slide but is retained and guided by movement of the lower slide as will be described.

The slide members 88 and 88B are illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES and 6 and consists of a molded plastic element or body 91 having a horizontally or laterally opening notch 92 formed in one side thereof to open away from the swinging or opening edge of the door panel.

The slides 88 and 88B are generally rectangular or cubicle in shape and have parallel grooves 94 formed in their opposite side edges that slidably and supportingly engage the lips 66 of the rails with which they are engaged. The yielduble plastic material from which the slides are made permit them to be snapped into and l etween the lips at any position and the frictional properties of the slides permit them to slide easily on the rails while maintaining a generally horizontal position. The outer ends of the bodies 93 opposite the notch 93; form flat abutment surfaces 95 for a purpose to be described.

As noted the notches 2. open from one side of the body 95 facing the edge of the door while an end wall which may be the top or bottom of the slide is retained as at 93. Intermediate of their vertical depth the sides of the notches it are provided with inwardly projecting flanges IJli which are spaced from the top or bottom wall 98 and which are in turn provided with an interior notch 1 5?. that extends to a transversely narrowed or restricted throat 104 before opening into a segmental circular enlarged opening 1%. The ends of the pivot pins @2 and 9d are provided with annular grooves which can be pressed through the threats 1% into the recesses 106. This leaves an enlarged head on the ends of the pins which overl'es the opposite face of the interior flange Mill so that the pins are vertically retained in the slides or guide members. in the case of the lower pivot or guide pin the head of the pin merely rests on the lower wall 98, while in the case of the upper guide pin 82 the enlarged head on the end of the guide pin overlies the top of the intermediate flange 92 and is supported therefrom to support the pin and the door from the slide member as previously described. The swinging or moving edge of the sectional door is thus supported at least in part by the action of the slide member 38 and the spring 84 so that the entire weight of the free edge of the door assembly is not suported in cantilever action from the pivot pins 44 and 50. The door assembly accordingly opens and closes with a smooth free moving action.

The slide or guide members 88 have a further function in a folding door assembly as illustrated. Positioned near the center of the upper rail 16 and the lower rail 18 are stop members 168 and 193A consisting of blocks of yieldable material such as rubber and having grooves lit) formed in their sides which permit them to be snapped into supporting engagement with the lips 66 of the rails. The stops 103 are sized longitudinally to engage the abutment ends 96 of the slide members on the two hinged door sections when the door sections are closed. As is shown in somewhat exaggerated angular relation in FIGURE 7 the hinged panels 22A and 22B are provided with swing limiting means such as the yieldable stop buttons 112 positioned between the adjacent edges of the door sections or by motion limiting stops 114 formed between the knuckles of the connecting hinges 24. As the hinged panels of the door sections are moved to closed position the abutment faces 96 of the slidable guides engage the ends of the stop 108 applying a yieldable reverse force to the opening edge of the door. When the panels are pushed slightly beyond center as shown in FIGURE 7 this yieldable force tends to hold the panels against the motion limiting stop 112 or 114 and the door is yieldably held in closed position so that it will not open accidentally.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Supporting and guiding connections between a door having a sliding edge and upper and lower guide tracks extending along the top and bottom of the doorway, said tracks being .of channel shaped cross section opening vertically inwardly of the doorway with transversely inwardly extending lips on the inner edges of the channel sections, said connections comprising,

slide blocks of synthetic plastic having parallel slots in their opposite sides and adapted to be snapped into said guide tracks with said lips in supporting and guiding engagement in said slots,

said slide blocks having notches formed in their vertically opposed inner faces and opening to a longitudinally end of each block,

flanges .on said blocks projecting into said notches,

said flanges having notches formed therein fiom the same end as the notches in the blocks and opening through restricted throats to semicylindrical bearing openings,

and upper and lower pins projecting from the upper and lower edges of said door and sized to move laterally into the notches in said blocks,

said pins having bearing portions rotatably fitting said bearing openings,

and supporting portions on said pins vertically engaged with said blocks with the supporting portion of the upper pin engaged with the upper sides of the flanges on the upper block.

2. Supporting and guiding connections as defined in claim 1 in which said pins have enlarged heads on their ends located vertically outwardly of said bearing portion with the head on the upper pin forming the supporting portion thereof.

3. Supporting and guiding connections as defined in claim 2 in which the head on said lower pin rests on the bottom of the notch formed in the top of the lower block.

4. Supporting and guiding connections as defined in claim 1 in which said bearing portions are formed by annular grooves formed near the ends of said pins, with the upper side .of the groove in the upper pin forming the supporting portion of that pin.

5. A pin supporting and guiding slide block for the pins on a door having a sliding edge comprising,

a block of synthetic plastic having parallel grooves formed in opposite sides thereof,

a first notch formed in said block and opening to one end and the top of the block with a wall remaining at the bottom of the notch,

and a flange projecting into said notch in spaced rela- 5 tion to the bottom of the notch,

said flange having a second notch formed therein smaller than said first notch and opening through said flange to the same end of the block as said first notch,

said second notch having a semicylindrical bearing portion at its inner end extending over 180 to a restricted throat intermediate of the length of the second notch.

6. A pin supporting and guiding slide block as defined in claim 5 in which said flange is positioned intermediate of the depth of the first notch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,943,675 7/1960 Ford 160206 3,019,836 2/1962 Leigh 160-199 3,096,539 7/1963 Dickinson et a1. 160206 X 3,156,955 11/1964 Lindstedt 1693 X 3,302,691 2/1967 Andrews et al. 160206 3,335,785 8/1967 Anderson et a1. 1601l8 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Examiner. 

